- 84 [Written / Action]

[fortunefail]

[Martel]

We need to talk.


-----

[Action]


[This afternoon, Yuan can be spotted walking around the village perimeter. To the stores, then the library and finally he'll take a break near the fountain, watching people as they pass by. By then, he's gathered up a bag filled with assorted foods and a few books and he's flipping idly through his journal. It may seem like he doesn't have a particular reason for sitting out there, but that's exactly what he wants people to think.

Once he's sure nobody's around to see him, he'll slip into the tunnels. There's a certain someone down there he needs to check up on.]

Comments

[Action]

[galaxy-nymph.livejournal.com]

[Sheryl's never really been much of a reader, but her wanderings around the village have brought her in the direction of the library. She spots Yuan's blue from behind and immediately stares in shock as she's never seen Alto wear clothing like that before. She'd heard about him wearing it from his brother but it was the first Sheryl had ever seen it in person. Her pace brings her up to Yuan eventually as she reaches to grab his shoulder.]

You should've said something if you were here too, Alto.

[Action]

[fortunefail]

[Yuan had sensed someone approaching him, he just didn't think too much of it. He's sitting in the village plaza, after all. It's a busy location, so people pass him by all the time. Still, the presence is getting awfully close and he looks up just in time to feel a hand on his shoulder. Yuan is one of those people who doesn't appreciate being touched, so he wastes no time in jumping to his feet to shrug that hand off again.]

What the- Who? [Who the hell is Alto?]

[Action] 1/2

[galaxy-nymph.livejournal.com]

[Sheryl's hand snaps back almost immediately as Yuan turns to face her. Nope... definitely not Alto.]

[Action]

[galaxy-nymph.livejournal.com]

You're not him.

[Sheryl folds her arms across her chest before leaning in closer to get a better look at Yuan, studying him intently before smirking.]

But you do act like him.

[Action]

[fortunefail]

Is that so? [He doesn't sound entirely interested. It's nothing personal, he just can't bring himself to care about acquaintances of complete strangers, even if they do seemingly look and act like him.]

Perhaps now, you've learned to make certain the person you're approaching isn't just reminiscent of who you're looking for.

[Action]

[galaxy-nymph.livejournal.com]

I suppose so, but it would make it easier not to mix you up with him if I happened to know your name?

[Action]

[fortunefail]

[... What a cheeky girl.] Yuan. It's Yuan. Now you can return the favor and introduce yourself as well.

[imatreenow.livejournal.com]

[Guess who isn't happy to see you, Yuan? Raine stopping by the previous day had been bad enough. As soon as Mithos sees him, he ceases his irritated pacing and simply glares.]

Did you come here to gloat?

[fortunefail]

[Yuan never expected Mithos to be happy to see him. In fact, the feeling is very mutual. Sadly, Mithos is his responsibility and Martel won't forgive him if he lets her little brother starve or anything like that. He isn't here to gloat, he's here because he has to.]

I came here to be certain you aren't doing anything stupid.

[imatreestill.livejournal.com]

Does it look like I can do anything down here? [He gestures around the sparsely-furbished cell. Acknowledging his helplessness in front of Yuan...that's a tough blow, but his former companion's patronizing attitude just pisses him off. He wants to shove every bit of it back at him.]

If I could do anything to escape, I would have come to spill your blood by now. [Still falling back on threats, despite the great disparity between their ability levels.]

[fortunefail]

[If Yuan's expression is any indication, he's grossly unimpressed by Mithos' threat. That's not just because a set of thick metal bars is separating them, either.]

You mean you'd have attempted it, which would've been a rather trivial affair. ...I brought you something to keep you busy.

[He crouches down and slides the bag he was holding between the bars. It's got a loaf of bread, a few bottles of water, some assorted pieces of fruit and three library books. Yuan had no idea what Mithos likes to read these days, if at all, so he got some fantasy literature from other worlds. Nothing too violent, in case it gives him any ideas. Have fun reading the Tales of Beedle the Bard, man.]

[imatreenow.livejournal.com]

[And if Mithos's expression is any indication, he didn't want to be reminded of how ineffective his threats are. It's the only way he knows how to deal with Yuan.]

I don't need your charity. [Not true - food and water are pretty darn important. But he sure as heck isn't going to thank his captor. Rather than being thankful, he mostly finds it annoying that they're faking kindness. If they really wanted to do him a favor, they'd let him go. And maybe let him send his sword through them, not that he even has that anymore.]

[fortunefail]

[Yuan straightens up again, shaking his head. He was half expecting Mithos to throw those supplies at his head. It's nice to see he's being so calm about it. Arrogant as always, but at least he's not violent. Not yet, anyway.]

Responsibility isn't the same as charity. It's a warden's task to make sure their prisoner doesn't starve to death. [He's not saying it triumphantly, he really means it.]

[Action]

[lezareno_prez]

[HEY FELLOW BLUE-HAIRED BUDDY. Or... not-buddy, really, but that isn't going to stop Regal from giving him a friendly nod as he opens the bakery door to allow some fresh air in.]

Good afternoon, Yuan. It's been some time since I last saw you.

[Action]

[fortunefail]

[Yuan gives a quick nod in return. Should he stop to talk to Regal? It's hard to estimate what to expect from this guy; he doesn't really know him that well at all.

He'll just pause in his steps for a moment, then.]

Some time, indeed.

[Action]

[lezareno_prez]

Then again, it's not that difficult to lose track of time when things are as quiet as they have been lately... almost unusually so.

[In other words: he's noticed that something seems to be up. Whether you want to give him more details or not is up to you, Yuan.]

[Action]

[fortunefail]

Quiet? [He snorts at that. What with that experiment a month ago and Mithos causing more trouble, things have been far from quiet for him.]

That just means you're lucky enough to have avoided the chaotic situations.

[Action]

[lezareno_prez]

[Regal quirks an eyebrow just slightly. So things HAVE been going on, just as he thought.]

Yes, even if the Malnosso give us a brief respite from experiments, something else always seems to come up to make matters difficult. And from what I've heard, this "something else" is of relevance to those from our world.

[Action]

[fortunefail]

[Subtle, Regal. Very subtle. There's no mistaking what he's referring to, but this is like offering an umbrella after the rain. There might be another "downpour", yes, but if it happens Yuan will deal with it the same way as before. Accompanied by the same people, because by now he knows what Raine and Sheena are capable of. It's not a personal thing against Regal; he wouldn't want Zelos or Presea to cooperate either.]

... That's been dealt with, for now. You don't need to concern yourself with it.

[voice]

[seraphgoddess.livejournal.com]

[ It was only pure luck that Yuan's message managed to get to Martel. For the past few weeks, she has been searching for her missing brother non-stop. She would have enlisted help from others, but she was aware of Mithos' lack of popularity with everyone (with the exception of Kaori of course).

Although burdened with worry, she was able to notice the mysteriousness of Yuan's message. As a matter of fact, how long has it been since she last heard of him? While he was indeed avoiding her, he at least had the curtsey to check on her once in awhile. ]

Uh . . . I'm really sorry but there's something that really needs my attention.

[ As much as she wanted to talk to Yuan, finding Mithos came first. ]

[voice / Filtered]

[fortunefail]

[Yuan suspects that this "something" that needs Martel's attention would be Mithos. Still, even if it were something else, it's important that they discuss this as soon as possible.]

It's about Mithos.

[voice / Filtered]

[seraphgoddess.livejournal.com]

Mithos?! You . . . You know where he is?!

[ If she wasn't speaking to someone at the moment, she would have cried with joy. ]

Where is he?!

[voice / Filtered]

[fortunefail]

... I think it's best if we discuss this in person.

[And then he realizes how this might sound to Martel, so he adds:] Mithos is unhurt, but the situation is a little more complicated than that.

[voice / Filtered]

[seraphgoddess.livejournal.com]

[ Thousands of possibilities ran through her head. Mithos wasn't hurt. That brought much relief, but if he wasn't hurt or dead, then what happened to him? What was so complicated that required Yuan to have him speak to her in person? Especially when he was trying everything in his power to avoid her. ]

Alright. Where do you want to meet up?

[voice / Filtered]

[fortunefail]

I will come to your house.